Ignition distributor for internal combustion engines

ABSTRACT

A contactless distributor in which the ignition timing is energized in response to signals produced by a plurality of magnetic elements moving in a circular path past a magnetodiode pickup element. The magnetic elements are mounted on a plate or disc attached to the distributor shaft and the pickup element is mounted for movement along the path to vary the ignition timing.

United States Patent Roger Habert Paris, France 838,991

July 3, 1969 Apr. 20, 1971 Ducellier & Cie Paris, France July 12, 1968 France 159,030

Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee Priority IGNITION DISTRIBUTOR FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES 2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl

123/117 l23/146.5A Int. Cl F02p 5/10 Field of Search 123/l46.5

(A), 148 (AC), 148 (E), 117; 315/20; 310/70 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,924,633 2/1960 Sichling et al. 123/ 148E 3,291,108 12/1966 Schneider et al. 123/148E 3,297,009 1/1967 Sasaki et al 123/148E 3,322,107 5/1967 Mieras et al. l23/148E Primary Examiner-Laurence M. Goodridge Attorney-[mine and Smiley 4 I :l r

lll

IGNITION DISTRIBUTOR FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This application is a copending application of prior filed Habert application Ser. No. 835,661, filed Jun. 23, 1969.

Various ignition distributor devices have been proposed to provide proper timing during the ignition cycle of an internal combustion engine, including the mechanical type having a pair of breaker contacts actuated by the rotating distributor cam. In addition to the relatively rapid wear associated with the contacts, uneveness in the contact faces may result in erratic timing.

Various transistorized types have been proposed, some of which retain the conventional breaker points while others have proposed contactless systems such as those employing a light source and photocell means in substitution for the usual breaker points.

Although transistorized types in combination with conventional breaker points avoid the rapid deterioration of the points due to decrease in the voltages impressed across them, mechanically operated breaker points are propense to maladjustment and are limited as to the rapidity with which they may operate with accuracy.

Photoelectric or equivalent types of contactless systems are delicate in nature and moreover require accurate signals particularly as applied to the radiant energy source in order to achieve satisfactory results. Moreover, their constructions make it difficult to 'achieve the requisite automatic advance characteristics, particularly within the confines of limited space.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is concerned with a rugged and simple contactless system which may be accommodated in a small space and which easily lends itself to utilization with automatic advance mechanisms of the type which have been developed for mechanical breaker point systems.

More particularly, the present invention is directed to a distributor device which employs a member rotating with the usual distributor shaft and carrying a plurality of magnetic masses equal to the number of engine cylinders in uniformly spaced relation. A pickup member is disposed to be adjacent the path swept by the magnetic masses to produce output pulses for controlling the ignition timing. The pickup member is a magnetodiode and may be moved in the relative direction of the swept path by conventional means such as centrifugal advance mechanism and manifold vacuum advance-retard mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES FIG. ll is a plan view of the distributor device according to the present invention, the vacuum advance-retard mechanism being shown in section; and

FIG. 2 is a partial vertical section taken through the distributor substantially along the plane of section line 11-" in FIG. 1!.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference to FIG. I, the distributor body is indicated therein by the reference character 1 and rotatably supports a conventional distributor drive shaft 2 whose upper end is adapted to receive the distributor rotor, not shown. A mounting plate I is provided with upstanding ears which are fixed to the inner face of the distributor body I by means of the fasteners F, two of the fasteners being conveniently utilized also to secure the clips C for the distributor rotor cap D, as is shown in FIG. 2.

The mounting plate P is provided with an upstanding pivot pin upon which the pivoted lever 22 is pivotally mounted at one end thereof, the opposite end of this lever carrying a magnetodiode 5. An upstanding pin 24 on the lever serves to secure the bracket 26 which carries the magnetodiode 5 and also serves as an anchoring member for the tension spring 28 and for the link 6 of the vacuum advance-retard device indicated generally by the reference character 30. As is usual, the advance-retard device is provided with a conduit 32 adapted to be connected to the intake manifold of the associated internal combustion engine and subject the diaphragm 7 to such pressure on the corresponding side thereof, the opposite side of the diaphragm 7 being vented to ambient atmosphere. Thus, at high manifold vacuums, the link 6 will pivot the lever 22 in FIG. 1 in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot pin 20.

Secured below the mounting plate P to the distributor shaft 2 is a plate or disc 3 which is provided around its circumferential margin with a series of magnetic masses 4 which are equidistantly spaced circumferentially and which are of a total number equal to the number of cylinders of the associated internal combustion engine. Since the disc 3 is affixed to the distributor shaft 2, the magnetic masses 4 sweep a circular path adjacent to which the magnetodiode 5 is disposed so that every time a mass sweeps past the diode, an impulse will be generated which may be applied over a suitable conductor not shown to control the ignition timing of the associated internal combustion engine.

Although it will be appreciated that the disc 3 and consequently the magnetic masses 4 may be mounted on an upper section of the shaft 2 which is adapted to rotate under the influence of a centrifugal advance mechanism with respect to the lower or drive end of the distributor shaft, it is preferred that the advance characteristic responsive to engine speed be accomplished by the electrical circuitry according to the copending application Ser. No. 835,661 filed Jun. 23, 1969 and which includes the herein described distributor mechanism as one signal generator and another signal generator which has an output voltage proportional to engine speed, the two signal generators being effective to trigger a pulse generator when a predetermined relationship between the ramp voltage output of the present invention and of the tachometric voltage generator is attained.

In any event, it will be appreciated that the present invention presents a contactless ignition distributor which is of very simple yet rugged construction and which may readily accommodate both for ignition advance with respect to engine r.p.m. and ignition advance-retard in conjunction with manifold vacuum reflecting engine load.

The lever 22 may be provided with a depending lever 34 projecting within an enlarged opening 36 in the plate P so as to provide limit stops for the angular movement of the lever 22, it being appreciated that the spring 28 normally urges the lever 22 in the retard direction in opposition to the effect of high manifold vacuum which urges the lever 22 in the advance direction.

The present invention, therefore, is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as others inherent therein. While the presently illustrative embodiment of the invention is given for the purpose of disclosure, numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made which will readily suggestthemselves to those skilled in the art and which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim:

I. In an ignition distributor for internal combustion engines, in combination:

a distributor body;

a distributor shaft rotatably journaled therein;

a structure of magnetic mass connected to said shaft for rotation therewith along a circular path with said body;

a pickup member carried by said body and positioned adjacent said path to receive signals from said magnetic structure as it sweeps therepast, said pickup member being a magnetodiode;

an arm pivotally mounted at one end within said body and carrying said pickup member at its opposite end;

2. In an ignition distributor as defined in claim 1 wherein a plurality of structures of magnetic mass is provided in equally spaced relation around said path, the number of structures being equal to the number of cylinders of the associated engine. 

1. In An ignition distributor for internal combustion engines, in combination: a distributor body; a distributor shaft rotatably journaled therein; a structure of magnetic mass connected to said shaft for rotation therewith along a circular path with said body; a pickup member carried by said body and positioned adjacent said path to receive signals from said magnetic structure as it sweeps therepast, said pickup member being a magnetodiode; an arm pivotally mounted at one end within said body and carrying said pickup member at its opposite end; spring means normally urging said arm to a predetermined position within said body; an engine manifold vacuum-controlled linkage for opposing the action of said spring means; and a mounting plate fixed within said body, said arm being pivotally connected to said mounting plate.
 2. In an ignition distributor as defined in claim 1 wherein a plurality of structures of magnetic mass is provided in equally spaced relation around said path, the number of structures being equal to the number of cylinders of the associated engine. 